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The first step in decoding Korean place names is to learn the four
directions.
These are:
| DIRECTIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| north puk | ||
| west so-jjok | east tong | |
| south nam |
The names of geographic features are:
| GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES | |
|---|---|
| haebyon | seashore beach |
| san | hill mountain |
| sinae | small river brook |
| kang nae | river |
| hang-gu | harbor, port |
| tae-yang | ocean |
| pa-da | sea |
| hae-hyop | channel strait |
| ho-su | lake |
| mul | water |
| man | gulf, bay |
| kot | cape |
| hanto | peninsula |
| p'yong-ya | plains |
| san-maek | mountain range |
| on-dok chak-un san | hill |
| kol-jja-gi kye-gok | valley |
| som | island |
| ta-ri kyo-ryang | bridge |
| kil chil-lo | road |
| hae-an yon-an | coast |
| hae-byon | beach |
The names of colors and numbers are:
| COLORS | |
|---|---|
| huin hin pit huida | white |
| ppal-gan pit | red |
| kom-un pit huk | black |
| no-ran pit hwang | yellow |
| cha-jut pit | purple |
| p'u-run pit | blue |
| ch'o-rok pit | green |
| NUMBERS | Korean Origin |
Chinese Origin |
|---|---|---|
| one | hana | il |
| two | tul | i |
| three | set | sam |
| four | net | sa |
| five | taseot | o |
| six | yeoseot | yuk |
| seven | ilgop | ch'il |
| eight | yeodeol | p'al |
| nine | ahop | ku |
| ten | yeol | ship |
Some names for administrative entities and for attributes are:
| ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITIES | |
|---|---|
| to-si | city |
| chi-bang | district |
| chi-yok | locality |
Some city names:
| CITY NAMES | |
|---|---|
| CITY | ORIGIN OF NAME |
| Seoul | "capital" |
| Pusan | "teapot hill" |
Province Names:
The names of the provinces in most cases are combinations of the names of their two major cities; i.e., Kangsang from the cities of Kangju and Sangju and Ch'ungch'ong from the cities Ch'ungju and Ch'ongju.
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